Warnings- brief and non-detailed mentions of a pregnancy loss ahead.
Hermione sat quietly by, listening to Harry explain again everything he'd learned. He had explained to both Ron and Hermione that professor Lupin had told him he knew about his parents, but had not gone into detail about his aunt before meeting her. He had wanted to give the whole story to both of his dearest friends, but poor Ron had gotten into some prank candies Dean had left laying out for Neville and was so asleep there was no hope of waking him anytime soon. Hermione, however, was a wonderful listener and Harry really needed a sounding board. She sat by his side, listening as he retold some of what his Aunt Jasmine had been telling him, and showed her pictures in the albums she'd sent with him. It had been a week since his first meeting with his Aunt Jasmine, and another weekend was upon them. Jasmine had promised to clear the entire Saturday for Harry if he so wished, which of course he had defiantly wanted.
"It really is wonderful, Harry. That you found her, or she found you. Or that her husband took the job." Hermione commented. "I actually met her about a couple weeks ago, in the library. She was getting some books for Professor Lupin in the after hours, and you know Professor McGonagall wrote me a pass to use the library late. She's quite sweet. Struck me a bit odd, but sweet."
"Odd?" Harry questioned, half defensively but art of him agreed. Jasmine did have a certain quirk about her.
"She was at a table eating ice cream out of a coffee mug and looking through volumes from the restricted section. Listening to that American Band Nirvana on a portable radio- Obviously was not expecting company." Hermione laughed. "I'm not surprised to find out she's your mum's sister. They have a similar look to them."
"Sorta, yeah. Harry said, picking up another album and flipping through the pages. "But different too. Look." He turned the album around and showed her a muggle style picture of the two- Lily in a tie-dyed shirt that said 'bride to be' in fabric paints- the young and embarrassed looking Jasmine in a similar 'bride's maid' shirt. Lily had her hair twisted up and neatly tucked, Jasmine's was a wild, untamed tangle pulled haphazardly to one side in a ponytail. Hermione almost snorted laughing at the picture.
"These are priceless." She said. "I'm so happy that you have them- but Harry. Why haven't she and Professor Lupin had you?" She knew this seemed to a line that wouldn't normally be crossed, but with their friendship she knew Harry wouldn't mind her questions.
"There is a two-fold answer to that, mostly. Apparently the Ministry feels that a muggle upbringing is safer for me, and she was underage for the first few years of my life, so there was a while she wasn't able to fight the decision." Harry paused and shrugged, "I understand. I mean just because she came of age doesn't mean she had her life together enough to try and get me. She had to live with friends for the rest of her Hogwarts career because my grandparents were dead. She had lived with my mum and dad but-" He drifted off, knowing Hermione knew the rest of the story.
"Its great you can know her now. And Professor Lupin- He was best friends with you dad? So you have a line back to them both. That's great, Harry!" She repeated again. She smiled in a half way sort of way, and Harry started to ask her what the deal with it was, but decided to let it go. He was happy just to have some family.
"It is great. I'm going tomorrow morning and spending the day with my Aunt Jasmine. She works in a muggle law office in Grimsby, but they live in Whitby. She's an accountant for the firm." Harry explained. "But when Professor Lupin took this job, he had to come live in the castle. She sort of comes and goes as needed. But he's got to be out tomorrow, so I get the whole day to listen about my mum when she was young."
"I'm glad to see you so happy, Harry." She smiled. "I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow; I think I'm going to go check over some of my homework." She said, suddenly excusing herself. Harry bade her goodnight, and he too gathered up his albums before ascending the stairs to his dormitory.
Hermione however, couldn't help but feel there was something else that they weren't telling Harry. After all, it seemed that Jasmine had worked for the law firm for years, and the couple appeared to be mostly well off- Fairly well dressed, both very intelligent. But Hermione felt there was something more- The fact they never got to even meet Harry before now, and that they had no children, coupled with the Professor's scars- She knew there was something more, maybe not sinister, but defiantly a secret that was waiting to be uncovered.
Remus Lupin sat quietly against the wall in the floor of the bedroom he and Jasmine were currently occupying. Tomorrow would bring the the full moon the next evening, and even though he was nearly a thirty year veteran of the change lycantropy forced him through, he was always filled with dread. His wife had tried her best to help him through it for years, but usually the pain and anxiety that came with it left him irritable and he often looked to be alone to keep from doing anything to hurt her, even emotionally. It was still early evening, but Jasmine had decided to make a quick trip to their house, leaving him in some much needed peace- Until a knock came to the door.
"Its open." He called, motioning his wand for the door, causing it to slowly open. In came Madam Pomfrey, a small, sad smile on her face; a smile Remus knew very well. The old nurse-witch had always had a soft spot in her heart for the young werewolf, and had never been shy about playing favorites over him. Directly behind her came the potion's master, Severus Snape, who was much less fond of Remus, but equally vocal about his feelings. He stayed back, goblet in hand while Madam Pomfrey came on into the room. "How're you feeling, love?" She said, touching the back of her hand to his forehead. He had to laugh a bit at her habit, though they both knew fever was not a side effect.
"Alright, considering. World class care, after all. Jasmine tries but she knows she has nothing on you, Poppy." She giggled at his flattery, but continued fussing around and then offered up her painkillers and a sleep aid, which he took with great thanks. She turned and waited, and Snape brought over the wolfsbane potion, ignoring Remus' gratitude and he turned on his heels and left.
"Always such sunshine, that boy." Poppy sighed.
"He has his reasons." Remus reminded her. "Its why he won't come in if Jasmine is here."
"Mhmm" Madam Pomfrey replied. "Drink up." She tapped the steaming goblet- trying hard not to laugh at the faces Remus made as he drank it.
"It never gets easier" He said, handing over the now drained vessel.
"Imagine if you'd had it as a child, though." She said, remarking about the marked improvements the potion had brought him in recent years. She sat down at a chair near where he'd settled in the floor and sighed. "Where is Jasmine, Remus?"
"She met Harry, so she went home to get him some things of her parent's for him." He replied casually.
"Oh! I am so glad- I was afraid she'd refuse to meet him so soon. Poor dear." She shook her head. "Is she okay?"
Remus simply shrugged. Madam Pomfrey was one of the only medical witches willing to even speak to he and Jasmine because of his infection, and she loved the young couple dearly. She smiled tenderly, but he could see she felt sadness.
"If there is ever anything I can help you with..." She said, standing up. Remus thanked her again, watching as she walked over for the door.
"Poppy wait." He called. "I- I need to know. I mean, I don't think I want to know, really. But I need to." He swallowed, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Is it my fault? Be honest with me. Did it happen because of what I am? Am I the problem?" His voice broke. The old witch's face softened.
"No, dear. It wasn't you. Sometimes women just have trouble- losses happen. I don't have all the answers, but I know it has nothing to do with lycanthropy. I'd given my wand up now to keep it someone like Jasmine from ever having to know that pain- Heaven knows she deserves a little one. She'd be such a good mum. But no, it wasn't you. It wasn't anyone." She felt her heart break for them, but the relief on Remus' face made her feel a bit better.
"I just needed to know." He said quietly. "Thank you."
"Of course." Poppy nodded. "Give miss Jazzy my love."
"Of course." He mirrored her response as she left the room. Remus allowed himself to relax for just a moment, before a loud clatter from the sitting room broke his silence. Stiffly, he rose from his spot on the floor to investigate.
"Jazz?" He ask, poking his head around the corner.
"Oh! I'm sorry love-dove. Did I wake you up?" She ask, concerned. Around her was a pile of knickknacks and treasures she had from her parent's house.
"No, I wasn't sleeping." He replied, stepping on into the room. "Wh- What on earth are you doing?" He couldn't help but laugh.
"Well- Mum always made quilts and such and I thought I'd let Harry take a couple." She pointed to the trunk she'd drug back in with her. "And those are some of daddy's better woodworking. Thought he might want a couple to sit around. So I brought choices." She smiled, so excited about the following day. Remus smiled too, watching her move about.
"You're wrecking the living room." He joked, propping against the wall, exhaustion taking his will to stand.
"And you should be in bed." She replied coolly.
"Then tuck me in." He said, in a mock-defying tone. "You can have Harry help you wreck the whole place tomorrow if you like."
"That's fair." she said happily. "Come on then. Rest for you!" She wrapped her arm into his and lead him back into the bedroom, tucking him down into the bed first before moving around the place, tidying up the mess she had made. It was too late for him to be awake really, she knew, and when Jasmine came back into the bedroom she found he'd already fallen asleep. She let out a small breath and kissed his forehead gently. "Goodnight, my love." She whispered.
"Night, darling." He replied in a sleepy slur. Jasmine laughed and climbed into the large bed beside him, curling herself into his side and holding him as closely as she could.
"Thank you." She said quietly. She knew he was far too asleep to hear her now, but she was so happy in the moment that he'd made her meet her nephew. That she knew they were all safe in that moment. For the first time in a long while, Jasmine fell asleep completely happy.
So, a bit more into the background story- but we will get to Halloween next chapter (which will be longer than this one) and have some serious action. Bare with me! As always, thanks for reading! Be sure to review!
